Septic tank pumping in Oxford County

Why tanks need pumping

Everything that goes down the drain ends up in the septic tank. Liquid flows out to the leaching bed, but solids settle to the bottom as sludge and grease floats to the top as scum. If the tank isn't pumped, those layers build up until solids wash out into the bed and clog it. Pumping a tank is routine. Replacing a bed ruined by solids is a major project.

How often?

Most households need the tank pumped every three to five years. It depends on the tank size, how many people live in the house and how much water you use. A garbage disposal, a water softener that backwashes into the tank or a busy household all mean pumping more often. Read our guide to how often to pump.

What happens on the day

• Finding the lids. If you don't know where they are, the company can locate and dig them up. Adding risers brings the lids to the surface for next time.
• Pumping. The truck pumps out both compartments, including sludge and scum.
• A look inside. The operator checks the baffles, the inlet and outlet and the liquid level for signs of trouble.
• Filter cleaning. Many newer tanks have an effluent filter at the outlet that needs rinsing.

Keep a record

Keep the receipt with the date. Buyers, lenders and inspectors may ask when the tank was last pumped, and it helps the next company know what to expect.